Teenagers play under a waterfall at Legoland's $12 million water park, which opened May 28.
— Charlie Neuman / Union-Tribune

Legoland California won’t build a hotel in Carlsbad until at least 2013, but the local attraction will continue to be developed and expanded, the chief executive of the park’s parent company said Tuesday.

Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainments Group, which counts four Legoland parks among its 62 amusements worldwide, visited the Carlsbad venue to take a look at its new $12 million water park, which opened May 28.

He said that when Merlin acquired the Legoland theme parks in 2005, its strategy was to develop them into resorts where people would stay for two or three days. He said the company has invested $50 million in the Carlsbad park, which is based on the children’s toy building blocks.

“Everything we’ve done since has been (according) to that strategy, starting with the addition of new rides like Pirate Shores (in 2006), then the addition of the beautiful Sea Life center (in 2008), the water park,” Varney said.

“Then going forward, what you’ll be seeing in the next few years will be construction of a beautiful Legoland-themed hotel,” he said, which is likely to open in 2013 or 2014.

He said the company has the permits to build a 250-room hotel, but it also has approvals for a hotel in Windsor, England. That will come first, he said, because Merlin wants it open in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Carlsbad resort will follow, he said.

He said the company also is converting the defunct Cypress Gardens theme park in Winter Haven, Fla., into North America’s second Legoland park. Other Legoland parks are in Windsor, England; Billund, Denmark; and Gunzburg, Germany. Merlin also plans to develop Legolands in Malaysia and Dubai.

It owns other such prominent attractions as Madame Tussauds wax museums.

Varney said the company has seen its ninth consecutive year of double-digit growth in profits, despite the global recession, but scaled back its expansion plans when saw the economy heading for a dive in 2008-09.

“For example, we only opened three attractions this year, when normally we open five,” he said.

He said the company has developed a diverse assortment of attractions.

“We have got a balance that’s about 60/40 split between profit from outdoor attractions like theme parks, and profit from indoor ones like Sea Life centers and Madame Tussauds,” he said. “Our model is not like Disney’s, which is big, mega-international resorts (where you) stay a week, and lots of theme parks.”

Nor is it like Six Flags regional parks that stress thrill rides.

He said the Lego brand continues to thrive in the United States, and the Legoland theme parks are a big draw.

“It’s a colossal vote of confidence in the strength of Legoland brand and the enduring, universal appeal to children of the humble little Lego brick,” Varney said.